by millie210 44 Replies latest watchtower bible
I was asked recently by a still in friend (it was meant sincerely not sarcastically)
"But what do you do with that scripture so far as not attending meetings?"
I typed Hebrews 10:25 in to the search bar but didnt get much.
I would love to hear your thoughts folks!
That verse says in part: ".....not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together....but encouraging one another..." Witnesses have used it since like forever to justify having numerous weekly meetings, assemblies, conventions, etc. Note it says nothing about how often those gatherings should occur, nor that they have to be held in a building constructed specifically for that purpose. Tell your friend he/she can encourage you by stopping by for a visit, going out for a meal, even by phone, e-mail, or text.
I found the following site interesting. It was not written by ex-JWs, but touches on this very problem.
My 2c: The Bible was written for the benefit of 1st century Christians. When the last of the apostles died, the Bibles efficacy died along with them. Not to say it's not a good book, it is. However trying to fit every word of it into our lives today, is like trying to pack an orange into an apple skin.....it just doesn't fit. That is probably why so many of the WT terachings are so absurd; trying to make sense of archaic writings applied to todays world: Impossible. Just consider the WT's explaination of prophecies made 1000's of years ago. I'm supposing to the people of that time, the meanings were crystle clear ; today tho? "Clear as mud, but it covers the ground, and the confusion makes me head go round and round".....H. Belefonte
Show this to your friend and ivite him/her out for some spiritual encouragement...
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.
Matthew 18:20
Yup, think of the context, any gathering together of the christians who were addressed by the writer of Hebrews would have taken place in a private home, and probably not at any regular time. The Writer is simply saying do not isolate yourself.
Hebrews was probably written toward the end of the first Century, its similarity to 1st Clement being notable, and Christians at the time were experiencing persecution in various forms, from mild prejudice to being brought before a Court, so isolation could result in a loss of faith.
Look up the cross references. It's very enlightening!
Yup, all about 70 C.E.
(Romans 13:11) [Do] this, too, because YOU people know the season, that it is already the hour for YOU to awake from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than at the time when we became believers.
(2 Peter 3:12) awaiting and keeping close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah, through which [the] heavens being on fire will be dissolved and [the] elements being intensely hot will melt!
(Originally posted 1/20/14): I recently got an unsolicited lecture from a well-intentioned but nevertheless misguided JW friend. The gist of it was that I needed to go to all the meetings or I would miss out on "everlasting life."
I responded that I do not need to go to meetings to have a relationship with God. The predictable response was, "I could show you a million Watchtowers that say you do!"
I naturally concurred, saying, "I'm sure you could. But can you prove that from the Bible?"
After an awkward silence, my friend predictably went for the JW "go-to" scripture about Meeting Attendance: Hebrews 10:24, 25. I responsed, "Of course. Why don't you read it again and tell me what it actually SAYS, and not what you think it MEANS."
Of course JWs believe this verse is an injunction to meet at the Kingdom Hall several times a week for their regular indoctrination sessions. But it simply does not say that. According to the rNEW, it DOES say Christians should be "meeting together" but it does not proscribe when, where or how often. (The previous NWT read, "gathering of ourselves together." That's different, no?)
What about the cross-references? What light do they shed on the subject? Let's look:
In the rNWT there are two marginal references next to the phrase "meeting together." They are:
Note: the previous NWT had two more cross references, but they don't help either.
First, although the scripture at Deuteronomy does in fact contain a "command" for all of Israel to "gather together," a quick perusal of the context shows that this was to be done once every seven years! (Deut. 31:9-12). It simply does NOT support the WT's cult practice of multiple weekly meetings. It just doesn't.
What about Acts 2:42? This, of course, is part of the account of the unique events at Pentecost. When a person reads the verses for what they say without trying to impose on them any pre-existing ideas, a clear picture emerges of a group of people spending time together in a variety of activities. Included in this is the "taking of meals," which as verse 46 points out was in different, private homes. These people were excited to spend time together and they did it because they wanted to, not because they felt some sort of obligation. Either way, it was a unique situation that in no way set a precedent for a religious requirement of multiple meetings every week. And the context most certainly does not suggest that when Christians lived their normal lives that they were "spiritually weak" and subject to death from God for not "going to the meetings." This idea just is not in the Bible.
Again, the previous NWT did not say "meeting together," but said "gathering ourselves together." Here is another example of the GB/New World Translation Committee changing the scriptures to try and support their pre-existing beliefs.
All this being said, my friend continued to try and press the idea that I could not have a relationship with God if I didn't "go to all the meetings." I said, "One word: Cornelius."
I then explained that, like Cornelius, I had a relationship with God thirty years ago--before I became a JW! When I was disfellowshipped for several years, I rebuilt my spirituality and my relationship with God brick-by-brick, trowelling the mortar by myself. I do NOT need to go to any meetings to have a relationship with God!
She said, "Are you saying we don't need to go to the meetings?"
Now, not wanting to be branded an apostate, I hedged. "No I did NOT say that. Please do not put words in my mouth or misconstrue my words. I simply said that I do not need to go to meetings to have a relationship with God. No one does. That's what the Bible teaches."
I then said, "Look, this is obviously upsetting you. Why don't we just drop it for now." And so we did.
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BTW, the two other verses that used to be used as references in the old NWT also do not support the WT/JW teaching on mandatory meeting attendance:
You only need 2 or 3 Christians for Jesus to be "present." No specific directions as to time, place, frequency or manner of gathering are mentioned or even implied.
This is the account in Troas where Paul gave a speech that apparently was so long and so boring that a young man fell asleep and fell out of a window:
Again, this was a one-off situation, in a private home where everyone was gathered for a meal.
In summary, when we read the Bible for what it actually says, instead of trying to interpret it to support what we think it means, a very different understanding often comes to light.
BTW, don't forget to incite to love and fine works!
And whatever you do, no long-winded speeches before dinner!!!
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In Greek the word Incite can also mean to argue, so gathering together to incite and to encourage to do fine works. I take this as meaning to get together and argue over doctrine to make sure what was being taught was accurate and to encourage ones to do good and help others like james said at 1;27. JW's don't do this they go and sit and are indoctrinated for a couple hours not being able to argue over these teachings and then are not encouraged to help others or each other, no its all about the preaching of their religion and recruitment.
